Condenser container



April 1940- w. G. PONTIS 93 CONDENSER CONTAINER v Filed July 29, 1937 2a 4 4 28 QFNWa I INVENTOR vwlbbnqziliqnlui BY/M W4 4 ATTORN EYS Patented A r. is, 1940 PATENT OFFICE CONDENSER CONTAINER William G. Pontis, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a cor-- poration of Delaware Application July 29,

Claims.

This invention pertains to electrolytic condensers, and is concerned with means providing a non-conducting casing about a condenser section, and sealing the casing against leakage of 5 an electrolyte.

One object of this invention is to perfect insulation of the electrode elements from structure supporting the condenser unit.

Another object of this invention is to protect the person, or attendant, from shock of a charged condenser.

A further object is to seal a container or casing enclosing a condenser section against leakage of an electrolyte.

A still further object of this invention is to eliminate corrosion of metallic parts supporting, or in the immediate proximity of, an electrolytic condenser.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

These several objects are accomplished by providing a cup of non-conducting material adapted to embrace the condenser section and cover all but one face of the unit, which cup is closed by a lid or terminal head of non-conducting material, with an interposed gasket or sealing ring, such so that clamping together of the lid and cup end will compress the gasket and effect perfect sealing of the Joint. A retainer ring for securing the parts in clamped relation is thence secured in place and maintains the seal.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, substantially as indicated by the line and arrows l--i of Fig. 3, illustrating the protective casing contributing to the instant invention.

0 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the open end of the condenser cup, before the lid and gasket are adjusted in place being a view substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a condenser unit after 45 it has been sealed up according to the instant invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section, substantially as indicated by line and arrows 4-4 of Fig. 1.

so Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views in section,

illustrating the means and mechanism for securing the terminal head to the condenser cup, and for accomplishing the sealed relation of the container.

u Wlthparticularrefercncetothedrawing, I0

1937, Serial No. 156,277

indicates a condenser section comprising a roll or bundle of foil electrodes alternating with sufflcient spacers, and in which each electrode terminates with a connector tab 12 or it. A condenser cup l6, comprising a molded receptacle of non-conductive material, such as Bakelite" or phenolic condensation product, or rubber composition, or like product moldable under the application of heat, pressure or otherwise, is dimensioned to such an extent as to loosely receive the condenser section III therein, when held together or surrounded by rubber bands or tapes l8, and extends substantially throughout the entire length of the condenser section III. The terminal edge 20 of the cup 16 takes the form of a thickened flange and is annularly grooved on its face as at 22 surrounding the open. end of the cup.

A terminal head or lid 24 is provided with a pair of through terminals 26 and 28, a pair of dummy terminals ill and 32, and a central insert 34, disposed substantially as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawing. The terminal head is formed from material similar to cup i6, and provides a flange 36 on one face thereof telescopically receivable within the open end of the cup I6, and a rib 38 extends diametrically across the head, beneath the dummies 30 and 32 so as to substantially separate the through terminals 26 and 28. The peripheral edge of the lid 24 outside of the flange it is provided with an annular groove, mating up with that of the flange of the condenser cup, and makes provision for reception of a. considerable portion of a rubber gasket, or sealing ring 40, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In assembling the parts the condenser section III, bound together with the bands or tapes I8, is disposed within the condenser cup 16, where it is held firmly by packing means 42, such as a strip of corrugated paper or the like. The terminals l2 and I are thence secured to the through terminals 26 and 28, and with the gasket 40 in place in one of the grooves, the terminal head 24 is placed upon the open end of the cup it, where it is held down under pressure while a clamp ring 48 is bent or crimped to maintain the parts as assembled.

The clamp ring 40 constitutes a continuous ring of sheet metal, L-shaped in cross section, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing, and is adJusted with respect to the assembly by it over the condenser cup It from the bottom upward whereupon the flange engages behind the flange 20 of the cup.

A convenient means accomplishing the clamping relation of the parts is illustrated in Figs. and 6, where a block or support member I0, is adapted to receive and hold the condenser cup ii, the preformed clamp ring it, and the loosely adjusted terminal lid 24 and gasket 40 all in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. With the parts thus assembled, a movable tool comprising a pressure pad 52 descends to engage the terminal head 24 and press it against the end of the casing l6, thereby deforming the gasket 40 into the form illustrated in Fig. 6, indicated at a. While the parts are under this state of pressure a crimping tool 54 descends to turn the edge 56 of the ring inwardly and over the edge of the terminal head 24, as indicated at 58.

The assembly of the parts and the sealing of the casing about the condenser section being complete, and the tools 52 and 54 being withdrawn, the sealed unit substantially as illustrated in Fig. 3, may be removed from the block 50, whereupon it may be provided with a terminal cover 60, of inverted cup-like formation, that has its side walls notched as at 62 for reception of terminal leads, and provides a central boss 64 having a counter-sunk aperture for reception of the hold-down screw 66, that may be threaded into the insert 34.

It is customary in condenser construction to provide either the terminal lid 24 or the bottom wall of the condenser cup IS with pressure relief means, or a vent, such as is indicated at 68 in A condenser unit so constructed is adapted for service under practically any condition or circumstance, whether the unit be right side up, inverted, or laying upon its side. The gasket prevents leakage of the electrolyte, and therefor the efficiency of the unit is maintained, and corrosion of adjacent metallic parts is prevented. Also, all metallic parts subject to engagement with the electrode elements are perfectly shielded or insulated, and there is no danger of exterior short circuits, or shock being transmitted to an attending person.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A protective casing for an electrolytic condenser, comprising in combination, a cup of insulating material substantially enclosing a condenser section, and having a flange at its open end, a terminal head provided with a flange telescopically receivable within the cup, and a ledge exterior thereof matable with the edge of the cup, said mating surfaces of the cup-flange and terminal head each having an annular groove, a flat rubber gasket disposed over the cooperating grooves, and a sheet metal band surrounding the cup and terminal head at their juncture, said band having a flange engaging behind the flange of the condenser cup, and being deformed at its opposite edge to press against the exterior surface of the terminal head for compressing the gasket to flow into the annular grooves of the cupandheadforsealingthe enclosureaboutthe condenser section.

2. A protective casing for an electrolytic condenser, comprising in combination, a cup of insulating material substantially enclosing a condenser section, and having a flange at its open end, a terminal head provided with a flange telescopically receivable within the cup, and a ledge exterior thereof matable with the edge of the cup, said mating surfaces of the cup-flange and terminal head each having an annular groove, 9. flat rubber gasket disposed within the cooperating grooves, and a sheet metal band surrounding the cup and terminal head at their juncture, said band having a flange engaging behind the flange of the condenser cup, and being deformed at its opposite edge to press against the exterior surface of the terminal head for compressing the gasket and sealing the enclosure about the condenser section, and a means including said band forcing the gasket to flow out over the adjacent cup edge and head ledge.

3. In an electrolytic condenser a protective casing comprising in combination, a cup of nonconducting material having a terminal flange, a head member providing a ledge mating with the end face of said flange, said flange face and ledge being peripherally grooved, a compressible band disposed in the grooves and having a thickness greater than the combined depth of the grooves, and an endless ring circumscribing the cup flange and head member, said ring having a flange engaged behind the flange of the cup, and having an edge crimped against the outside of the head member for compressing the band so that it completely fills both grooves and flows out between the cup flange and head member.

4. In an electrolytic condenser, a protective casing comprising in combination a pair of cas ing members having ledge portions cooperable to close the casing, both of said ledges providing a groove in their cooperating faces, a compressible band having a cross sectional area greater than the combined cross sectional area of both grooves, said band being disposed between the cooperating ledges in substantial registry with the grooves and compressed to flow out between the ungrooved surface of the ledges, and an endless ring encompassing the case member and being crimped to hold the case member in compressing relation against the band.

5. In an electrolytic condenser having a pair of casing members including a closure member and a container each providing a cooperating flange, the method of sealing the closure member to the container comprising the steps in combination grooving the cooperating flanges, adjusting a rubber band between the flanges of the container and closure member so as to substantially flll both grooves, enwmpassing the flanges with a sheet metal ring, pressing the closure member against the container flange to comprise and distort the rubber band until it completely fills both grooves and bulges out between the flanges and thence crimping the edge of the endless hand against the closure member to maintain the seal between the closure and container flange.

WILLIAM G. PON'I'IS. 

